InTouch with Southern Kentucky August 2020 | Page 17

Before the boom in sales, both Gambrel and
Thompson say their respective dealerships had to
get creative in the way they sold vehicles. Like a lot
of businesses, this meant the two car lots would
have to focus their energy on online sales.
“Over the last few years, it has become more
prominent in our business to complete a car deal
over the internet and through phone and email,”
noted Thompson. “But that was definitely not the
majority of our business.”
Thompson says that before the pandemic, the
team at Don Franklin sold approximately 10% of
their vehicles online. Once the pandemic hit, all
of Don Franklin’s sales were conducted either via
the internet or over the phone. Since reopening his
doors, Thompson says internet sales are sitting at
around 40%.
Gambrel says his staff had a bit of a trial-run at
online sales before the pandemic, due to extended
road construction happening near his dealership at
the time.
Gambrel called his dealership’s venture into online
sales a slow process, but says that it is a prevalent
staple in the way they sell vehicles now. Selling cars
online have helped the team at Gambrel sell vehicles
to people as far away as Georgia and Alabama.
“It’s a different marketplace,” Gambrel explained.
“Not so much local, you don’t see a lot of local
people online. A few will get on there and shop, and
then drive to the lot and look.”
With the record setting pace of sales moving cars
off lots quickly, both Thompson and Gambrel say
they are able to sustain the number of vehicles to
match the high demand.
“While we are lower than usual, lower than this
time of year, the market is just so wild right now
with the influx of additional business,” Thompson
said. “Where we’re a pretty large new car auto group,
we’re still able to sustain our used-car inventory to a
reasonable level, because of being able to take tradeins,
and lease turn-ins. We buy a lot off of the street.”
JARROD MILLS I TIMES TRIBUNE
Like a lot of dealerships, Corbin’s Gambrel Toyota
has seen a recent boom in car sales following the
lockdown. Gambrel Toyota has been a Corbin staple
for over 50-years.
It’s been pretty good. We went
through a time there where you
didn’t see very much.
Larry Gambrel
Owner of Gambrel Toyota in Corbin
AUGUST 2020 In Touch with Southern Kentucky • 17